Check The Car Seat

🪀 Check your kid’s toy box: ABC Trading recalled 80,000 battery-powered children’s toys this week, including a light-up bow (headband), because kids can access the batteries too easily.

Button cell batteries are not just a choking hazard but a risk for an internal chemical burn. When swallowed, the electrical current reacts with saliva and can cause severe internal burns.

If you picked up any of these toys in the last seven months, check them. ABC Trading is offering refunds, and it’s probably best to just get rid of them.

🚗 Graco: Recalled all SnugRide Turn & Slide rotating infant car seats sold between January and March 2026.

The carrier can detach from the base during a crash, significantly increasing injury risk to an infant.

These were sold for around $350 at Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Babylist. If you bought one this year, don't return it to the store. Go to Graco’s website to register for a free replacement. In the meantime, Graco says it's safe to use the carrier without the base by installing it directly with the seat belt instead.

🧸 Build-A-Bear recall: The Heartwarming Hugs Weighted Plush Bear sold at Build-A-Bear from January through March 2026 is being recalled because the zipper slider can detach, creating a choking hazard.

36,000 bears are included and no injuries have been reported yet. Return it to any Build-A-Bear store for a full refund, or request one online.

🏭 50,000 people evacuated in California: A 34,000-gallon industrial tank at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, California overheated and reached the threshold for potential explosion or chemical leak. The entire surrounding area was under evacuation orders.

⚽ Arsenal ends 22-year title drought: After 22 years, Arsenal F.C. are finally Premier League champions again.

22 years ago flip phones were still new, social media didn’t exist yet, and Arsenal were lifting the title under Arsène Wenger with the “Invincibles” season in 2003–04, going unbeaten.

It’s the first title for manager Mikel Arteta, and the club’s first league crown since that unbeaten Invincibles season.

Arsenal now heads to the UEFA Champions League Final on May 30 against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. with a chance to win their first European Cup.

⚾ Baseball finally got its first no-hitter since September 2024: The Houston Astros combined to no-hit the Texas Rangers in a 9-0 win, with Tatsuya Imai throwing six no-hit innings to start it off before Steven Okert handled the seventh before Alimber Santa closed the final two innings in his MLB debut.

The wild part: Santa became the first pitcher in more than a century to be part of a no-hitter in his first major league appearance.

🏁 NASCAR lost one of the greatest to do it: Kyle Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion and one of the most dominant drivers in NASCAR history with over 230 career wins across the national series, died Thursday at 41 after complications from a severe illness that progressed into pneumonia and sepsis. His family confirmed the news in a statement.

Both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 paused to honor him this weekend. At Indy, when his name and years appeared on the scoring pylon, the crowd went silent and pit crews stood at attention in a rare moment of respect across motorsports.

Felix Rosenqvist went on to win the Indy 500 in the closest finish in race history, and Daniel Suárez won at Charlotte. But across both races, the weekend felt like it belonged to Busch.

🏀 The NBA Conference Finals are exactly as good as advertised: If you’ve been half-watching the playoffs or not watching at all here’s what you need to know to survive the group chat and the office this week.

The New York Knicks are rolling through the East and ended the Cleveland Cavaliers season in embarrassing fashion (beating them 130-93), punching their ticket to the NBA Finals in dominant fashion.

Out West, it’s still a fight. The Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs have been trading blows all series, with neither team able to really pull away. The Spurs stole a wild Game 1 in double overtime, OKC answered back, and since then it’s been a back-and-forth grind where every game feels like it could flip the series.

Translation for work tomorrow: “The Knicks just embarrassed the Cavaliers, but the OKC and San Antonio series is tied 2-2”.

The NBA Finals tip off June 3 on ABC.

⭐ The Mandalorian and Grogu had a massive opening: The new Star Wars movie that dropped over Memorial Day weekend opened to a strong $100M.

It also landed an A- CinemaScore, which is a major sign audiences are actually enjoying it.

The movie stays true to the Mando and Grogu dynamic, with the same mix of heart, action, and humor that made the show work. Pedro Pascal has also talked about it feeling like a true big-screen Star Wars experience, with Jon Favreau leaning into a more cinematic, IMAX-scale approach built specifically for theaters rather than streaming.

🏦 America has a new Fed Chair as of Friday: Kevin Warsh was sworn in at the White House on May 22, taking over from Jerome Powell after eight years. He steps into one of the most powerful economic jobs in the world at a messy moment. Inflation still running hot, gas prices elevated, and global tensions adding more uncertainty to markets.

At the swearing-in, Trump called Warsh “totally independent,” while also laying out exactly how he wants him to approach the job. Warsh’s first major policy meeting comes in June, and markets are already bracing for his first signal.

⛽ Gas is sitting around $4.52 a gallon nationally: Earlier disruptions tied to conflict in the Middle East, including pressure around the Strait of Hormuz, pushed oil higher, and gas followed right behind it.

That price jump at the pump is now costing the average SUV driver roughly an extra $80–$90 a month compared to pre-spike levels, which adds up quickly for families already feeling stretched.

There’s also been talk of progress on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Trump saying a deal with Iran is “largely negotiated,” though Iran hasn’t confirmed anything yet. If it actually happens, oil would likely cool off. If it doesn’t, prices probably stay elevated or move higher.

💸 Tariffs are showing up more directly in everyday prices: Early in 2025, many businesses were absorbing most of the cost instead of passing it on, but that’s shifting.

JPMorgan now estimates that more of that burden is moving to consumers, meaning a bigger share of tariff costs will show up in things like groceries and household goods. The average family has already seen over $1,700 in added costs, and that number is trending higher.

If it seems like the cost of groceries has gotten insane, it’s because it has.

_{Not financial advice — just the headlines.}

📱 Nearly half of teens are on their phones between midnight and 4am: A new study found that 46% of teens are actively using their phones during the middle of the night on school nights. Not just having them nearby but actually scrolling.

And even when they’re not using it, just having the phone in the bedroom was linked to worse sleep. Proximity alone seems to be enough to mess with rest.

Sleep experts and pediatricians are pretty aligned that bedrooms should be screen-free overnight. Most recommend setting up a central charging spot in a common area, like the kitchen, and cutting phones off 30 to 60 minutes before bed.

If the first pushback is “I need it for my alarm,” the simple fix is a cheap digital clock and taking the phone out of the equation. Maybe consider making this change as a family because it could probably help you as well.

🎮 GTA 6 is officially coming November 19: The moment everyone talks about but half the internet still doesn’t fully believe is actually confirmed. Take-Two has verified the release date, and marketing ramps up this summer, which means trailers, and nonstop conversation among teens is about to kick off in the next few weeks.

It’s rated M for mature, meaning it is intended for 17+. It’s already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about game releases in years after GTA 5 brought in over $10B since 2013.

If you’ve got a kid in that age range, the ask is coming. Better to decide your answer now before you’re in the middle of a random weeknight debate.

A good conversation starter is simple: “Do you actually believe this is going to release on that date?”

🛁 The “Sephora Kids” phenomenon is hitting home: If you’ve got a daughter between 9 and 14, there’s a good chance your bathroom sink is slowly starting to look like an aisle in Sephora.

Pediatric dermatologists are becoming more concerned.

Here’s what experts are flagging:

A recent Pediatrics study looking at viral skincare content found kids as young as 7 using products with active ingredients like retinols, glycolic acid, and high-strength vitamin C. These are designed for adult skin concerns like wrinkles and collagen loss, not developing skin.

Pediatricians are seeing more cases of contact dermatitis and irritation. Kids’ skin is thinner and more sensitive, so layering multiple “active” products doesn’t create a glow, it can actually break down the skin barrier and lead to long-term sensitivity.

While routines get more complicated, the most important step is often missing entirely and one that I am guilty of: sunscreen.

Most dermatologists recommend a basic three-step routine. Gentle cleanser, fragrance-free moisturizer, and a daily mineral sunscreen.

🗣️ Slang, decoded:

A few quick ones to shock your kids with at dinner.

Delulu: short for delusional, usually used jokingly when someone’s being unrealistic about a situation. (This one is my favorite)

Understood the assignment: means someone did exactly what was expected and did it well.

“Saxophone gets louder”: a meme way of saying things are escalating no matter what you do, based on a Muppets clip.

Main character energy: acting like you’re the center of the moment. Sometimes a compliment, sometimes not. If your kids say it to you, they are most likely insulting you.

🎃 The Pumpkin Spice Economy: Everyone loves the fall aesthetic, but nobody actually loves dragging 40-pound pumpkins, hay bales, and corn stalks from the store to the porch. It’s heavy, messy, and honestly just a hassle.

🌱 Why This Actually Works: You’re not selling pumpkins, you’re selling “curb appeal” and “seasonal status.” Most families love the fall look, but almost no one wants to spend their Saturday hauling heavy pumpkins, hay bales, and decor from the store and figuring out how to make it all look good.

💡 The Plan: Start with your immediate neighbors. Offer a few simple tiers so it’s easy to say yes.

A small pumpkin cluster. A full classic porch setup with hay, corn stalks, and pumpkins. Or a “grand entrance” version with layered decor and lighting.

The key is you’re designing the look, not just dropping off items. You’re selling the finished porch, not the individual pieces.

Then add a simple upsell: November removal. Most people don’t want to deal with rotting pumpkins and cleanup after Halloween, so coming back to clear everything out is an easy add-on service.

💵 The Numbers: The input costs are almost nothing:

👨‍👩‍👧 What Your Kid Walks Away With: This is a hands-on course in operations, design, and problem solving. They will not just be “selling pumpkins”, they’re learning how to sell an experience.

Memorial Day started as "Decoration Day" after the Civil War. One of the earliest known commemorations was organized by formerly enslaved African Americans in Charleston, who honored fallen Union soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers.

The long weekend is over. The cooler is empty. The kids are attempting to get back on a schedule. And the world kept moving the whole time you were offline.

But you're caught up now.

You know about the recall, the no-hitter, and you’ve got enough context to survive a coworker sports conversation about the NBA or Grogu. You’re even a step ahead on what your kid (or partner) might be asking for in November.

That’s the whole point of this newsletter.

To give you just enough to stay connected to the world without disconnecting from your kids.

We're all just Winging It. ✌️